← Back to directory
Nilo T. Divina
DivinaLaw · Philippines
DivinaLaw
Investment · Philippines
DivinaLaw is a leading full-service law firm in the Philippines. We take pride in advocating and practicing dynamic lawyering - prompt, proactive and result-oriented. We offer depth and range in experience and resources and a professional, collaborative work ethic - qualities that clients appreciate in an emerging and challenging market like the Philippines.
At DivinaLaw, we endeavour to understand our clients’ needs so we can give them the best legal service possible. We aim to exceed their expectations at every turn.
Our practice includes the entire spectrum of Philippine law. Our litigation practice covers corporate, criminal and civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution, estates and trusts, immigration, labour and employment, elections, administrative regulation, and maritime law. Our corporate practice includes banking, finance and construction, mergers and acquisition, foreign investments, securities, corporate rehabilitation, insurance, public-private partnerships, mining and natural resources, energy, utilities regulation, intellectual property, sports and entertainment, and taxation.
Foreign Investments
DivinaLaw’s vast experience in structuring foreign investments stems from its involvement in various transactions for different industries, e.g., power, financial, retail, steel, and realty. DivinaLaw’s experience in all aspects of investments, business and financial-related laws and transactions either collectively or through individual experience of its lawyers, may be considered among the most extensive in the country. Such services include:
• extensive legal and corporate due diligence;
• setting up offshore companies;
• trade finance facilities and debt assignments;
• international swaps and derivatives (schedule and transactions);
• registration, incorporation and capitalization of representative and branch offices;
• review of cross-border commercial transactions, including rendering of taxation advisories, among others.
DivinaLaw’s clients include leading companies in banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, power, oil and gas, education, health care and insurance, realty and property development, and technology. The Firm also represents illustrious private and public corporations, regulatory bodies, and several high net-worth individuals
Awards and Recognitions
With its consistent rendition of high quality swift legal service, it comes as no surprise that the Firm, barely a decade from its inception, has been conferred prestigious excellence awards, including, the Innovation Excellence Award for Most Outstanding Independent Law Firm in the Philippines for 2015; the ACQ Law Award for Leading Independent Law Firm of the Year for 2014; its Managing Partner, granted the ACQ Global Award for Managing Partner of the Year for 2015; and now, the Corporate International Magazine’s Investment Law Firm of the Philippines for 2016.
International Links
DivinaLaw is the sole Philippine member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, a top-rated international association of over 100 independent law firms from more than 50 countries. We are also the only Philippine member of LEGALINK, also a top-ranked global network of 68 independent law firms from a majority of the world’s commercial centers.
Allied services: Banking and Finance
DivinaLaw has extensive experience in banking and finance transactions and has worked on various securitizations, structured and project financing. In addition to structuring and negotiating treasury and trust products, the Firm also assists institutional investors on their investment management mandates and securities-lending programs. Its comprehensive expertise in this field of practice ensures clients of outputs and results that are efficient and custom-tailored to suit each client’s peculiar needs.
DivinaLaw is likewise engaged in advisory work for corporate trustees and agency service providers in relation to the general exercise of trustee powers and discretions. It has represented both creditors and borrowers in complex and simple loan and facility syndications.
Allied services: Mergers and Acquisitions
The Firm’s merger and acquisition team has the experience and expertise in acting as counsel for either the surviving or absorbed corporation. Having been recognized as an illustrious legal service provider for mergers and acquisitions (M&A’s) by CORP INTL Magazine for 2015, DivinaLaw is distinguished for its holistic handling of M&As through the prevention of legal problems and cost-effective, strategic and innovative solutions to legal and implementation issues.
Having represented a broad range of high net worth individuals and local and international corporations in M&As, our Firm’s services include planning, including documentation, regulatory approvals and implementation; initiation and thwarting of corporate take-overs, management buy-outs and divestments; corporate rehabilitation, restructuring and recapitalization; shareholder agreements, block sale and pooling arrangements; equity offers and acquisitions; and due diligence.
Nilo T. Divina
Nilo T. Divina, founder and managing partner, is a leading counsellor and authority in Philippine corporate law and litigation.
He founded the firm in 2006, and has been the firm’s managing partner since. He grew the firm from a crew of nine lawyers to the present complement of 44 attorneys and counsels. He is also the dean of the Faculty of Civil Law of the University of Santo Tomas, one the Philippines’ leading law schools.
Mr Divina’s experience spans some 25 years of appearing before courts of all levels and various quasi-judicial agencies. He led the firm in winning several landmark cases before the Philippine Supreme Court, including cases that clarified important issues in credit transactions, helped strengthen parts of the Rules of Corporate Rehabilitation.
He is a regular speaker in the Philippine lecture circuit, on such topics as debt restructuring, debtor-creditor relationship reforms, procedural reforms, public interest cases involving elected officials, presidential impeachments, anti-graft and corrupt practices issues, realty law, finance and investment, and special court proceedings. He has appeared as an expert guest in several highly acclaimed television public information shows and continues to do so whenever his schedule permits.
Mr. Divina advises leading Philippine banks, educational institutions, insurance and health companies, realty companies, and several high net worth individuals, and is on the board of a number of top Philippine corporations. He is an active member of several Supreme Court committees on reforms in legal education and court procedures, and for the term 2013-2014, was the president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools.
Education
• Bachelor of Laws, University of Santo Tomas (Magna Cum Laude, Valedictorian, Rector’s Awardee for Academic Excellence)
• BA Behavioral Science, University of Santo Tomas (Cum Laude, Dean’s Lister, College Scholar)
• Post-graduate diploma in International Tax Law, Robert Kennedy College, Switzerland
Current Roles
• Chairman of the Board of Trustees – Philippine Association of Law Schools
• Dean – University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (November 2009-present)
• Member of the Board of Directors – United Coconut Planters Bank (April 2011- Present)
From the directory
Search all experts → Related experts
Anthony B. Peralta
Philippines
www.callejalaw.com
1 jurisdictionLegal
Anthony B. Peralta is a Senior Partner of Calleja Peralta Jimenez Law Office and Head of its Corporate Practice Group. He is also Corporate Secretary of Technikos Corporation, NextStage, Inc., Pulse Asia Research, Inc., Pulse Asia…
View profile →
Anthony B. Peralta
Philippines
Calleja Law Office
1 jurisdictionLegal
Anthony B. Peralta is a Senior Partner of Calleja Peralta Jimenez Law Office and Head of its Corporate Practice Group. He is also Corporate Secretary of Technikos Corporation, NextStage, Inc., Pulse Asia Research, Inc., Pulse Asia…
View profile →
Caesar Poblador
Philippines
Federis & Associates Law
1 jurisdictionLegal
Caesar Poblador is an attorney at law. Prior to joining Federis & Associates Law Office, he worked with two other large firms performing primarily litigation work while supervising daily trademark filing and prosecution work. His…
View profile →